Super Bowl Sunday—it’s not just a football game; it’s a celebration of friends, food, and fun traditions. And if there’s one tradition I look forward to the most, it’s playing Super Bowl Squares. Whether you’re a football fanatic or just there for the commercials and the snacks, Super Bowl Squares is the perfect way to get everyone involved in the excitement.
If you’ve never played before, don’t worry—it’s one of the simplest betting games out there. No need to memorize stats or analyze player performance; this game is purely about luck. It’s one of the reasons I love it so much—anyone can win, even if they don’t know a touchdown from a field goal.
Let me break it down. Super Bowl Squares is played on a 10x10 grid, giving you 100 squares total. One team playing in the big game is assigned to the rows, and the other team is assigned to the columns. Each square on the grid corresponds to a potential score, but here’s the catch: the numbers for the rows and columns (0-9) are assigned randomly after everyone picks their squares. That’s what makes it so unpredictable—you won’t know your numbers until the grid is complete!
Here’s how we usually set it up at my house. Before the game starts—usually when everyone is still snacking on nachos and wings—we pass around a blank grid. Each person can buy as many squares as they want for a set price, say $1 or $5 per square. Once all the squares are filled (or as many as we can sell), we draw numbers at random to fill in the rows and columns. It’s always fun watching how people react when their numbers are revealed. Some groan when they get something like a 2 or a 5, while others celebrate landing on the coveted 0 or 7.
The numbers represent the last digit in each team’s score at the end of each quarter. For example, if the score is 17-10, the winning square would be the one that intersects with "7" for the row (Team 1) and "0" for the column (Team 2). At the end of each quarter, whoever’s square matches the score wins a portion of the prize pool. Typically, the payouts increase as the game progresses, with the biggest payout going to the person who has the final score.
What makes Super Bowl Squares so fun is how it keeps everyone engaged, even people who aren’t die-hard football fans. I’ve seen my aunt, who couldn’t care less about the game, cheering louder than anyone in the room because the score was about to land on her square. It’s those moments—when everyone is invested in every play, every kick, and every touchdown—that make the game so enjoyable.
Another reason I love Super Bowl Squares is its versatility. You can tweak the rules and payouts to fit your group. If you’re hosting a big party, you can make the buy-in higher for a bigger prize pool. If it’s just a small gathering, keep it low-stakes or even free to play. You can even create multiple grids if you have a large crowd and want to give more people a chance to win. The possibilities are endless.
Of course, no game is perfect without a little friendly competition. Some years, I’ve seen people get so into it that they start strategizing which squares to pick, even though the numbers are random. One time, my cousin tried to convince everyone he had a “system” for picking the winning square—spoiler alert: he didn’t. We all had a good laugh when someone who picked their square at random ended up winning the big prize.
As much as I enjoy the unpredictability of Super Bowl Squares, what I love most is how it brings people together. It’s not just about the money (though that’s a nice bonus); it’s about the shared excitement, the laughter, and the little moments of celebration that happen throughout the game. Whether your team wins or loses, Super Bowl Squares guarantees that everyone has something to root for.
So, if you’re hosting or attending a Super Bowl party this year, I highly recommend setting up a game of Squares. It’s easy, fun, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Plus, it’s a great excuse to bond with friends and family over the biggest sporting event of the year. Who knows? This might just become your new favorite Super Bowl tradition too.
